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You can make a resounding architectural statement with an octagonal window. Variations of this type of window can be found in the Wind Palace in Jaipur, India; the Church of Chihuahua in Mexico; a village church in Oaxaca; and even art deco storefronts in Ireland. Home improvement stores carry octagonal windows for residential installation, simpler than in architectural marvels but still with a significant wow factor. For this project, you follow standard procedures for framing a rectangular window in a wall, with just one change to complete the work.

1

Mark your top and bottom plates -- 2-by-4s that form the top and bottom of your wall frame -- with a carpenter’s pencil. Make two marks indicating the width of the rough opening specified in the window manufacturer’s instructions. Typical rough-opening widths might be 20, 24, 28 or 36 inches. Add additional marks noting the location of the jack and king studs flanking the rough opening. The completed marks on the plates should show the width of the opening, flanked by a pair of 1 1/2-inch-wide marks on either side, the inner pair marked “jack” and the adjacent pair marked “king” in pencil.

2

Cut on a chop saw king studs to the same full length as your common studs, which will be the height of your wall minus 3 inches for single top and bottom plates and 4 1/2 inches for double top plates and single bottom plates. Lay the studs between the plates in the location marked “king” as part of standard framing techniques, assembling the wall on the floor before raising it into place. Hammer 16d nails through the plates into the top and bottom of the king studs.

3

Mark the inside of the king stud with the location of the header and sill plates, spaced according to the manufacturer’s rough-opening height specs. For a true octagon, the height of the rough opening will be the same as that of the width; for example, 24 inches for each dimension. For an elongated octagon, the height may be greater than the width.

4

Cut a 2-by-6 to the distance between the king studs, such as 27 inches for a 24-inch rough opening. Cut a two 2-by-4s to the same measurement to create a doubled sill. Orient the 2-by-6 vertically and with the bottom edge touching the top of the marked rough opening. Nail through the king studs into the side of the header with 16d nails. Facenail the sills together with 6d nails zigzagged 10 inches apart. Nail through the king studs into the sides of the doubled sills, with the sills’ top aligned with the mark showing the bottom of the rough opening.

5

Measure, mark and cut jack studs to fit between the floor plate and doubled sill. Nail through the jack stud into the king stud with 16d nails. Measure, mark and cut cripple studs to fit between the top plate and the header. Nail through the top plate or plates into the top of the cripple studs, and from the side of the cripple studs into the king stud, with 16d nails.

6

Complete the framing by cutting four corner braces out of 2-by-4s. Mark the length of the first brace on the 2-by-4; for example, 9 15/16 inches for a 24-inch perfect octagonal window. Set your chop saw to cut at a 45-degree angle and cut a bevel at each end of the marked length, such that 9 15/16 inches represents the length of the longer face of the brace. Repeat the process to create the next three corner braces. Toenail one brace in each corner. Adjust the angles and lengths as specified by the instructions if you're installing an elongated octagonal window.

Things You Will Need

Carpenter's pencil

Measuring tape

2-by-4s

Chop saw

Hammer

16d and 6d nails

Tips

Lift the framed wall into place and nail it to your subfloor and ceiling joists.

Visit your local jurisdiction’s housing and permits department to pull a permit for this project and to learn if you need a California construction license.

Install the octagonal window in its framing with the section marked “top” against the top of the framing.

About the Author

An award-winning writer and editor, Rogue Parrish has worked at the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun and at newspapers from England to Alaska. This world adventurer and travel book author, who graduates summa cum laude in journalism from the University of Maryland, specializes in travel and food -- as well as sports and fitness. She's also a property manager and writes on DIY projects.